In 2016 the Ukiah City Council unanimously approved Ukiah’s first public art policy, without which no murals nor sculpture may be approved on city property. A partnership has been formed between Art Center Ukiah (ACU) and the Arts Council of Mendocino County (ACMC) with additional involvement from the Ukiah Main Street Program, ACU’s Art in Action group and a newly formed Public Arts Advocacy group. These groups have come together to fund, jury, and select artists to start painting murals in Ukiah using Ukiah’s new public art policy to gain city approval.

Art Center Ukiah’s Art in Action group and the Arts Council of Mendocino County invite members of the public to attend an open community forum on February 2nd in which a plan to fund public art will be shared and attendees will be invited to help shape and define the themes to be included.

ACMC executive director Alyssum Wier reflects, “As we collectively do more and more online – from buying music to buying groceries — it’s worth taking a moment to consider the continued importance of public spaces in shaping our shared experience of a place. Public art is a great way to express everything from pride to playfulness. With the city’s new public art policy, the time is ripe to take this conversation to the next level and start making the community’s vision a reality.”

“What would you like to see on our blank walls?” asks community advocate, Laura Fogg, “Are you interested in seeing historic events depicted? What about our landscape and scenes of beauty? Or would you rather be inspired by subjects that make us think about contemporary life? Do you want a message or a laugh, or some of both? Do you prefer large murals painted directly on entire walls or smaller ones mounted like pictures? Should the murals be clustered or spread strategically throughout the town? And so on…there is a lot to think about!”

The public is invited to share ideas at the upcoming forum on February 2nd at 7pm at the Corner Gallery. We will follow up on last year’s community discussion on “What is Your Vision of Public Art in Our Community?” by hosting this opportunity to hear about what kind of murals you would like to see. Everyone is invited to attend and your vision for public art in Ukiah will be incorporated into a specific plan to fund murals in 2017.